STATE OF MAINE
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
1 STATE HOUSE STATION
AUGUSTA, MAINE


 

Paul R. LePage

GOVERNOR

March 15, 2015

Mike Thibodeau, Senate President Mark Eves, Speaker of the House
Maine Senate Maine House of Representatives
3 State House Station 2 State House Station

Augusta, Maine 04333-0003 Augusta, Maine 04333-0003

Dear Senate President Thibodeau, Speaker Eves and members of the Legislative Council,

With the sudden closure of Madison Paper Industries, 214 Mainers will be out of work and their
families will be worried about putting food on the table. Our state?once renowned worldwide
for our forest products and pulp and paper industry?Wis now down to six mills.

Due the rapid decline of daily newspapers and other publications, it is not surprising the demand
for supercalendered paper from Madison Paper has plummeted. With such challenges and the
?erce competition Maine companies face every day in the national and global marketplace, we
should not be making it harder for them to operate at home.

When is the Legislature going to wake up? I?ve been saying it for years: high energy costs, high
taxes and more onerous regulations from special interest groups are killing the jobs that Mainers
so deSperately need. If investment capital goes where it is welcomed and stays where it is

appreciated, you are doing a very good job of proving it is not welcome and you don?t appreciate
it.

It is more important than ever to make sure Maine is competitive in attracting new job creators
and retain existing companies by enacting common-sense legislation to lower taxes, reduce
energy costs and eliminate job?killing regulations. It is imperative you work to create a
welcoming atmosphere for businesses that allows companies to succeed and create the kind of
good career jobs the Maine people deserve.

.Q

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PHONE: (207) 287-3531 (Voice) TTY USERS CALL 711 FAX: 287-1034



 

How many more Mainers must lose their jobs before you take action?

Sincerely,

F)
Paul R. LePage 
Governor
cc:

Garrett Mason, Senate Majority Leader
Andre Cushing, Asst. Majority Leader
Justin Alfond, Minority Leader

Dawn Hill, Asst. Minority Leader

Jeff McCabe, House Majority Leader
Sara Gideon, Asst. Majority Leader
Kenneth Fredette, Minority Leader
Ellie Espling, Asst. Minority Leader